Insects and bugs may seem gross, but they can impact our daily lives. Earthworms take care of soil. Butterflies and bees pollinate flowers. Grasshoppers sing some of us to sleep. Spiders get rid of the smaller bugs that would make the earth unbearable to live on. These small creatures can make a big difference to our planet.

Earthworms

This small, simple creature is very important to our health. Due to an earthworm’s tunneling, soil can become nutrient-rich and better for plant life. Crops can be more successful with their efforts. On a rainy day, you can often see them on sidewalks – don’t squish them!

Worm Facts: Did you know that worms can eat their weight each day? Check out some of these interesting facts about worms.

FAQs About Worms: This link contains a long list of questions that you can get answered about worms.

Butterflies

There are hundreds of different kinds of butterflies, from monarchs to buckeyes. Butterflies and moths are known for their relatively long, beautiful metamorphosis. They change from baby larvae to great flying creatures. With an adult’s help, you can plant certain flowers to attract local butterflies to your garden.

Butterflies on Display: This shows off only a handful of different species of butterfly. Click each one to read more.

Butterfly Life Cycle: Read up and see some pictures of a butterfly in various stages of metamorphosis.

What is Metamorphosis?This word relates to both butterflies and many other bugs, including other ones on this list.

Butterfly Gardening: Here are more tips on how to attract local butterflies – ask your parents for help.

Bees

Many people panic at the sight of a bee because some people are allergic to bee stings. But bees are very, very important to the world’s ecosystem. They lead to pollination for many plants, and that pollination will often lead to food. Honeybees are different from wasps and other buzzing bugs because of this important role.

Honeybee: This site has a lot of information about bees, including how they work and even their scientific name (apis mellifera).

Bees and Flowers: Why are bees so important to flowers? This article talks about the reason.

Lifespan of a Bee: The life of a bee is short and important. Here are a few interesting facts.

Spiders

It’s alright to be afraid of spiders. Some spiders are poisonous, so it makes sense for kids and even some adults to be a bit scared of them. However, more often, they are incredibly important to many food chains, and they often don’t harm humans. They eat other bugs, help to save crops, and make beautiful webs.

Spiders: Here, you can watch a lot of different videos and learn a lot of different things about spiders from the BBC.

Venomous Spiders: These spiders are ones that you should actually worry about: the black widow, the brown recluse, and the hobo spider. Tell an adult if you see any of these right away!

Grasshoppers

These little bugs are known for their incredible hop. More than 10,000 species of this highly successful insect are said to exist. They are herbivores, and they love plants like corn, soybeans, cotton, or high grasses. You don’t have to worry about them stinging you, though they can bite when they feel threatened.

Great Grasshopper Facts: Here, you can see a diagram of a grasshopper along with information about its anatomy and metamorphosis.